Utah’s Karel Vejmelka (49 saves) stymies Hurricanes

Karel Vejmelka made a career-high 49 saves and the Utah Hockey Club scored three goals within a 2:19 span in the third period for a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday in Salt Lake City.

Nick Bjugstad had two goals for Utah, and Michael Kesselring had two assists. Jack McBain and Mikhail Sergachev scored Utah’s other goals, both during the third-period flurry.

Martin Necas’ second-period power-play goal was the only tally for the Hurricanes, despite a whopping 50-21 shots advantage and six power-play opportunities.

With the game tied 1-1 at 5:09 of the final frame, Kesselring made a great play to take the puck into Carolina’s end, and then made a canny pass to McBain for the conversion.

Sergachev followed up at the 7:11 mark, and Bjugstad’s second goal of the game came just 17 seconds later to put the hosts up 4-1.

Playing in just his fifth game of the season, Utah backup goalie Vejmelka delivered a career night.

Vejmelka and the Utah Hockey Club’s defenders had to be spectacular during an extended penalty kill in the third period. A fighting/game-misconduct penalty to Michael Carcone formed the bulk of nine minutes of power-play time for Carolina in the final frame, yet the Hurricanes couldn’t add another goal.

Carolina lost for just the second time in its past 11 games (9-2-0).

Hurricanes starting goalie Pyoty Kochetkov stopped 15 of 18 shots in 46:45 of ice time, and Spencer Martin stopped 2 of 3 shots in a relief effort. Defenseman Sean Walker accidentally collided with Kochetkov on McBain’s goal, and a shaken-up Kochetkov was removed from the game after Sergachev’s tally.

Bjugstad opened the scoring at 17:55 of the first period. Bjugstad’s goals were his first two of the season, after the veteran forward missed the Utah Hockey Club’s first eight games due to an upper-body injury.

Necas has 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) over a career-best 11-game points streak.

–Field Level Media